HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Finding Little Comfort in the Statistics of Survival

Andrea Barnett Budin · 10-21-2011, 11:14 AM

When I was diagnosed in '95 -- 4th stage invasive lobular carcinoma, w/2 out of 21 nodes involved -- I bought lots of books on the subject, to edify myself.

Dismal. Depressing even. I quickly tossed them aside.

I reached instead for books sold in the SPIRITUALITY section, where I'd never ventured before.

I learned to also check out the PSYCHOLOGY section in the stores.

I KNEW I was a person. A sentient being. Not a statistic. Not a number.

I already KNEW about the mindbody connection. I had personally experienced healing a years long debilitating back problem (diagnosed as a degenerating disc disease). I was set free from the pain by learning how to correlate the moments of extreme agony w/what I was thinking at the time. Just that knowledge set me free! Within 2 wks, w/no other intervention.

I have learned that if one person has survived you particular cancer -- YOU too can survive. Who are those people in that little group of survivors? Where they just lucky? I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT. They were the most passionate, focused people who rejected negative thinking and concentrated all their energy on HEALING, being in that little group, vividly seeing themselves as a Survivor, making their Intention and Expectation definitively clear!! The power of our thoughts, our Intention and our Expectation is awesome.

You were given the gift of healing, of using your thoughts and the images that go with them to acquire your deepest desires. What you want already exists -- in the Spiritual Realm. Call it to you!

KNOW you are going to Survive, against all odds! Own that. BELIEVE!

We are each miraculously empowered! Use your God-given birthright. It's been there since you drew your first breath in this world (the Physical Plane). Draw your dreams to you!

With pure, loving, healing energy being sent your way my Sisters...

Andi

10-21-2011, 11:14 AM	#3
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	To hell with the statistics..!!! When I was diagnosed in '95 -- 4th stage invasive lobular carcinoma, w/2 out of 21 nodes involved -- I bought lots of books on the subject, to edify myself. Dismal. Depressing even. I quickly tossed them aside. I reached instead for books sold in the SPIRITUALITY section, where I'd never ventured before. I learned to also check out the PSYCHOLOGY section in the stores. I KNEW I was a person. A sentient being. Not a statistic. Not a number. I already KNEW about the mindbody connection. I had personally experienced healing a years long debilitating back problem (diagnosed as a degenerating disc disease). I was set free from the pain by learning how to correlate the moments of extreme agony w/what I was thinking at the time. Just that knowledge set me free! Within 2 wks, w/no other intervention. I have learned that if one person has survived you particular cancer -- YOU too can survive. Who are those people in that little group of survivors? Where they just lucky? I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT. They were the most passionate, focused people who rejected negative thinking and concentrated all their energy on HEALING, being in that little group, vividly seeing themselves as a Survivor, making their Intention and Expectation definitively clear!! The power of our thoughts, our Intention and our Expectation is awesome. You were given the gift of healing, of using your thoughts and the images that go with them to acquire your deepest desires. What you want already exists -- in the Spiritual Realm. Call it to you! KNOW you are going to Survive, against all odds! Own that. BELIEVE! We are each miraculously empowered! Use your God-given birthright. It's been there since you drew your first breath in this world (the Physical Plane). Draw your dreams to you! With pure, loving, healing energy being sent your way my Sisters... Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...